Korteweg leads way with hat-trick

A three-try haul from centre Blake Korteweg helped Pioneer storm to a 60-13 victory over Balfour Lumsden at Newman Park on Saturday.
Korteweg has only recently returned to the division 2 side due to work commitments sidelining him the first half of the season.
‘‘It was good to be back in the team with us putting in a good team effort and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time,’’ Korteweg said.
The midfield back said he had been unavailable to play for the side because of work on the dairy farm but it was now the quiet time, so he was good to go for the season.
‘‘It is nice to be back playing, although I think my mind is a bit fitter than the body at the moment,’’ he said.
Korteweg was looking forward to the short turnaround this week with a game being played tomorrow night.
Pioneer is playing the Blues in Invercargill on a Thursday night because a few players are heading to Dunedin for the All Blacks test this weekend.
Pioneer coach Shaun Eckhout said it was good to welcome back a senior player such as Korteweg (32) into the side.
It is his second year with Pioneer after moving from Balclutha for work.
‘‘He played a hell of a game, so it is good to have him back in there. As a senior player he is important to the side and a guy younger players can look up to,’’ Eckhout said.
The coach was pleased with the work ethic of his players, especially the forwards, in Saturday’s match.
‘‘We stepped up and dominated both lineouts and scrum, a good effort from the guys when you consider the size of their front row,’’ Eckhout said.
The coach said his side had trained well last week and the performance was a result of the hard work put in.
The team would look to work on its handling and discipline going into tomorrow night’s match, he said.